The United Nations cultural agency, UNESCO, is considering adding Venice and its lagoon, as well as the Ukrainian cities of Lviv and Kyiv, to its list of endangered world heritage sites.

However, Australia's Great Barrier Reef is not included on the list for now, despite UNESCO warning of its serious threats from pollution and ocean warming.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cites significant progress in climate change, water quality, and sustainable fishing as reasons for the reef's exclusion. UNESCO expresses concerns over Italy's insufficient efforts to protect Venice from mass tourism and climate change.

The final decision on which sites will be added to the endangered list will be made by UNESCO member states at a meeting in September 2023. Photo by Francisco Anzola, Wikimedia commons.